Man City ones to watch: Jeremy Doku, Rodri predictions made ahead of 2025-26 season

Jeremy Doku has the potential to ‘take the next step’ at Manchester City in the 2025-26 season, Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole.

The 23-year-old joined City from Rennes for a reported £55m two summers ago and has since contributed with 14 goals and 20 assists in 84 appearances across all competitions, winning the Premier League title in his debut campaign at the club.

In what was a turbulent, and underwhelming, 2024-25 season overall for Man City, Doku showed glimpses of his brilliance, but the tricky Belgian winger struggled to deliver on a consistent basis, chipping in with just three goals and six assists in 29 Premier League outings.

However, Doku looked sharp and exciting down the left flank of Pep Guardiola’s team at the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this summer and scored twice in three group-stage matches.

Doku recently expressed that he is enjoying his football again now that he feels a new “freedom” from his own religious faith and also the trust of Guardiola, and McInerney believes that the dribbling king is one to watch at the Etihad Stadium next season.

Doku can ‘take the next step’ at Man City next season

When asked to select one Man City player who could elevate their game to a new level in the 2025-26 campaign, McInerney told Sports Mole: “I think Doku is one.

“I've always been a bit unsure of how far he’ll go. I'm not sure if he is just who he is, but I think the fact that he's going to have someone overlapping for the first time...he was showing signs at the Club World Cup - and it's only a couple of games, I know that - but he was getting so much closer to the goal.

“He was attacking the back post better, a couple of goals in that tournament, one from a corner which I never thought I'd see, and one just cutting in nicely, putting it in the bottom corner.

“I think his game will go up with the movement better around him, so I can't wait to see how he develops. I think he could be the one taking the next step, and maybe Savinho’s confidence will [also] rocket a little bit.”

However, the potential rise of both Doku and Savinho could have a knock-on effect on Oscar Bobb, who endured an injury-hit 2024-25 campaign last season and is another fighting for regular first-team opportunities in the final third.

“I'm sort of nervous about Oscar Bobb,” said McInerney. “I think a year ago, if he hadn't got that injury, he would have been a regular starter for City. I think he would have had a breakout season, but I feel like his development has set back an awful lot and the door has just got more and more jammed in front of him.

“There's so many people to get past that it might be hard for him, but if he can find that confidence, Oscar Bobb could be another that becomes a very special footballer for City.”

Rodri could be the difference-maker for Man City in PL title battle

Meanwhile, another Man City player who supporters are excited to see in the new campaign is Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who was sidelined for the majority of last season with an ACL injury and made his long-awaited return in May before featuring in four matches at the Club World Cup.

McInerney believes that the Spanish midfielder is somewhat “underrated” in some quarters, but the return of the Premier League’s best player, in his opinion, “changes everything” and is a “unique blessing” for Man City in terms of challenging reigning champions Liverpool for the title.

He has also suggested that while many of Man City’s rivals are bolstering their squads in the transfer market this summer - most notably Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea - the return of Rodri will almost feel like a new signing at Man City this season.

“I think we forget just how good Rodri is,” said McInerney. “My hot take is that I think if Rodri was available last season, City would still have challenged for the title. I don't know if we win it, but I think [City would challenge].

“I think the knock-on effect of Rodri staying fit means the players are more in control, they're running less, the injuries are lesser. I honestly believe that he makes such a difference because he's that good.

“We don't know just how ready he's going to be. It's going to take a few weeks, months, to get back to his full fitness, but he's a special footballer. His impact on the team is absurd. The tempo that he sets, his vision, his goalscoring, his mentality. Rodri being back is such a unique blessing for Man City.

Rodri’s return from injury “changes everything” for Man City

“As we look around, you see Arsenal signing [Viktor] Gyokeres, [Martin] Zubimendi, [Christian] Norgaard, [Noni] Madueke, Chelsea signing loads of great players, and Liverpool signing [Florian] Wirtz and maybe even Isak, on top of [ugo] Ekitike and [Milos] Kerkez and [Jeremie] Frimpong, there's great signings everywhere.

“City are going to sign five or six players as well, of really good quality, but we have Rodri. I know it sounds mad, but I think, as much as [other clubs] sign all these people, Rodri is such a leveller. When Rodri's at his best, he makes any team better in the world and I truly believe he's that good. Rodri controls any midfield he's against and that immediately gives you the upper hand.

“I think Rodri coming back - if he is the same player that he was before he went, and I think he will be for what it's worth, I think Rodri's too good and too confident to have doubts within his body, it'll just be a few games until he finds his rhythm - then I think City (can challenge for the title).

“I don't know if they're favourites, because Liverpool are, but I find it hard to disagree with someone who made a good argument that City could be, because I think Rodri’s that special.

“He's seriously, somehow, underrated, but also rated as the best player in the world. I can't explain it. He changes everything for me, he's truly the player of the Premier League.

“I think he's on his own personally in terms of his influence on the game, and if he's available, City have got as good of a chance as anyone to win the league.”

McInerney has also shared his thoughts on a plethora of other Man City players that supporters will be looking forward to watching in Sky Blue next season, including summer signing Rayan Cherki.

> Click this link to view and listen to the full discussion.